One-way clutch



Aug. 18,1942.

C. M ANDERSON oNEw'AY cLucH Filed April 29, 1940 A TTOR NE YS.

c. M. ANDERSON Aug. 1s, 1942.

Filed April .29. 1940 4 Sheets--Sheet 2 0R www@ ATTGRNEYS Aug.18,;14942. C, M ANDERSON 2,293,095y

ONE-WAY (ILUGHy Filed April 29, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 fa-Y. y @Mm .11"ug.18,1942. C M ANDERSON 2,293,095

ONE-WAY CLUCH Filed April '29, 1940 4 sheets-sheet 4 o y 60@ 6/ 49 /3 o Q 72 CID 1 VENTOR. BY QW/Ci im i m f@ CM Patented Aug. 18, 1942 ONE-YAY CLUTCH Carl M. Anderson, Corsicana, Tex., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The First National Bank of Corsicana, Corsicana, Tex., a corporation Application April 29, 1940, Serial No. 332,150

3 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in clutch mechanisms and more particularly to the friction type of one way clutch.

In the driving of heavy equipment such as that which is used in oil well drilling it is frequently necessary to effect a driving connection between driving and driven elements having a high physical property of inertia. In order to have the desired positive drive between such elements jaw clutches are frequently utilized but when utilized it is necessary for the elements of the connection to be brought substantially to a standstill or synchronous speed in order to avoid undesirable impact resulting from the positive engagement of the clutching elements. Likewise it is necessary in such construction to reduce the driving effort through the mechanism or to reverse the equipment in order to disengage the clutching elements.

The present invention is concerned with the provision of an engageable driving connecting between mechanisms and a connection which enables an accelerating engagement to take place preliminary to the locked or running engagement'. The invention hence obviates the necessity of bringing parts of l the mechanism to a standstill or to synchronous speed in order to effect an engagement and also enables ready disengagement of the driving connection.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the class described which is rugged in construction and which will effect a driving connection without undue stress being irnparted to elements of the construction or the load driven thereby.

A further object is to provide a friction operated clutch wherein friction members are interposed between drive and driven members, such friction members being movable into a wedging position to effect a driving connection.

Still another object is to provide a one way friction clutch that may be readily disengaged under load.

Another object is to provide an improved clutch in which movable friction members are normally held in a retracted position but which are movable to a position of increasing engagement after a manual operation of the clutch has been effected.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification considered in connection with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view thru an illustrative embodiment of the invention showing the relative position of parts when the clutch is eneased; Y

Fig. 2 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 1 but showing the relative position of parts when the clutch is disengaged;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 4-4 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an elevational View of the friction members and their associated retainer;

Fig. 6 is a sectional View thru an alternative embodiment in which the driving element is movable to effect engagement and disengagement of the clutch, the parts being shown in their relative positions whenl the clutch is disengaged.

Fig. 7 is a partial sectional view similar to that shown in Fig. 6 but showing the relative position of parts when the clutch is engaged.

Fig. 8 isa view partly in section taken on line 8-8 in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail showing the manner of locking the clutch in adjusted position.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive comprises a drive shaft I to which is affixed a clutch member 2 surrounded by a composite driven clutch member generally referred to as 3 and which is operatively connected as by means of a sprocket 4 to the mechanism to be driven thereby. A plurality of friction members 5 are interposed between the drive and driven clutch members 2 and 3 to effect a driving connection therebetween in a manner to be more fully described;

The driving clutch member 2 comprises a hub portion I0, a web portion I I and a peripheral ring portion I2 which has an axially tapered outer face I3 made up of a plurality of flattened surfaces I4 (Fig. 3), whereby the member has a polygonal cross section.

A plurality of studs or stops I5 shown as three in number project outwardly from the surface I3 and enter slots I6 (Fig. 5) in the retainer I'I which has axial openings I8 to receive the friction members or rollers 5. A spring 20 is positioned in each of the slots I5 and abuts the associated stud I5 and the adjacent roller 5 so that the retainer-roller assembly is normally held in position so that each of the rollers 5 is held approximately centrally of one of the flattened surfaces I4.

The composite driven clutch member 3 has a portion 25 which concentrically surrounds the frusto-pyramidal surface I3, and a ring 26 is splined upon keys 24 within the portion 25 so that such member is movable axially but non-rotatably within the portion 25. The ring 2B has a tapered inner surface 21 in spaced opposed relation to the surface I3 on the driving clutch member 2. The portion 25 is secured to a web portion 28 which is in turn attached to the hub 23, surrounding a bearing 30 on the shaft I. It is thus apparent that the driving assembly or composite clutch element 3 is rotatably mounted upon the shaft I where it is held in place by means of the washer 3| secured to the shaft I by means of cap screws 32.

It is believed apparent that upon axial movement of the ring 25 to the left as shown in Figs. l and 2, the surface 2l moves toward the tapered surface I3, whereby the friction members 5 will be engaged by each of the elements 2 and 23. Such engagement will cause the friction members 5 to move over the adjacent surfaces which have a converging relation. This movement will cause the springs 25 to become compressed as the fric tion members 5 move to a position in which the friction is sufficiently great that the adjacent members are locked relative to each other.

In order to effect the desired movement of the ring 26 so that functioning will occur in the manner just described, a :plurality of studs 43 are secured thereto and ypass thru openings in the web 28. The outer end of each of these studs is pivotally attached at 42 to one end of `a bell crank lever 43 mounted upon ears 44 upon the exterior of the web 26. The other end of each of the bell crank levers I43 is pivotally attached to a link 45 having a pivot 46 upon the inner end of collar 47 surrounding the hub 29 and rotatable therewith.

The collar 41 is provided with a peripheral groove 48 to receive a yoke 49 which may be moved axially of the shaft I. It is believed ap parent that as the collar 4I is moved to the left las shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the ring 25 will likewise be moved toward the left to effect engagement of the clutch in the manner above described. Conversely as the collar 41 is moved to the right the ring 25 is likewise moved and disengagement of the clutch is effected.

In View of the foregoing description of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive the operation of such construction is believed apparent. Attention will be directed to the fact that in event the speed of the member 4 tends to exceed that of the driving member 2 and the shaft I the friction members I5 will return to a position centrally of the flattened surface I4 in which case there will be little friction between these members and the surfaces on opposite sides thereof and the clutch may overrun if the differential driving force is sufficiently great to overcome this friction.

In Figs. 6 to 9 there is shown a modification in which driven member 3 is maintained in fixed position axially of the shaft I and the driving element is movable axially of such shaft in order to effect the desired engagement of the clutch.

Parts which are identical to those of the .previously described embodiment are identified by the same reference characters.

The shaft I is mounted upon spaced anti-friction bearings 55 and 5I, shoulders 52 and 53 on the shaft being provided to engage the opposed faces of the inner raceways of these bearings in order to prevent axial movement of the shaft and the associated elements. The driven member 3 is rotatably mounted upon the shaft I by means of antifriction bearings 54 of which the raceways engage a peripheral flange 55 upon the shaft so that this member is restrained from movement axial of the shaft. The member 4' is shown as a gear wheel so that power may be imparted to mechanism to be driven thereby thru the use of a complementary gear (not shown). Attention is directed to the fact that the member 3 is composite and includes an inner ring member 56 having an internal tapered or frustoconical surface 57 which serves the same purpose as does the surface 21 in the embodiment already described.

The driving assembly of this embodiment comprises a collar 58 which is mounted upon a stepped portion of the shaft between the bearing 55 and the shoulder 52' on the shaft I, and to which is threadably attached an adjusting sleeve 59 -which extends axially of the shaft. The inner end of the sleeve 59 fits closely about the surface of -a driving ring S5 which is axially slidable of the shaft I .but non-rotatably mounted thereon by means of the spline keys 5I extending longitudinally of the shaft.

The outer end of the driving ring 65 extends interiorly of the ring 53 and is provided with a peripheral groove 62 of which the bottom Icomprises a plurality of attened surfaces I4 whereby there is provided a frusto-pyramidal surface which receives the friction members 5 surrounded by the retainer II as already described in the previous embodiment.

The driving sleeve t9 is movable upon the spline keys 5I by means of a linkage arrangement comprising a link 55 pivotally connected to an ear 63 attached to a ring 58. The opposite end of the link 65 is pivoted to a bell crank lever 51. Cine end of this lever is attached to an ear on the yadjacent ring 59 so that movement of the bell crank lever 5l to the right, as viewed in the gures, will cause the driving ring Se to move axially of the shaft and interiorly of the ring 55. Movement of the bell crank lever 51 is effected by means of a link 'I5 attached thereto and also to an ear ll on the clutch throwout ring 72. This throwout ring is movable in a manner well known in the art by means of the yoke 45 as already described.

In the modified construction just described it seems apparent that desired movement of the throwout collar 72 toward the right causes the driven clutch assembly to move in that direction and thereby to bring the rollers 5 into engagement with the surface 5l. It is understood that the roller-retainer assembly is normally held in such lposition that the rollers lie approximately central of each of the surfaces I3, such condition being brought about by virtue of the stops I5 and the adjacent springs 23. Initial engagement will, however, tend to move this assembly in a direction to cause the friction members 5 to move into the converging space between the surfaces I3 and `5`I. Accordingly the frictional engagement will increase during such movement until a locked condition between the driving and driven members results.

In order to provide desired adjustment of the clutch whereby a locked condition is provided when the toggle connection between the ring 59 and the driving ring SII is moved to extended position, a threaded connection 53 is provided between the collar 58 and the ring 59. The collar 53 has :a radially extending flange E5 provided with a plurality of indentations 'I5 on its inner face, such indentations being adapted to receive the enlarged end 'I5 of a pin 'I1 positioned within an axially extending recess l5 in the ring 53. By pulling the pin Il outwardly against the force exerted by the spring 80, it is apparent that the collar 59 with the toggle links and ring 68 'can be rotated relative to the remainder of the Iassembly whereby the desired relative position of these members may be obtained. The members are then locked in position yby permitting the enlargement 16 to enter one of the indentations 'l5 in the collar 58.

The invention provides a friction clutch which may be engaged Without the necessity of bringing the respective drive and driven elements to a standstill or to a synchronous speed. This is possible since the initial driving force exerted as the tapered or frusto-conical surface 2l or 5l contacts the friction members 5, is sufficient to produce driving torque whereby the rotation of the driven element is initiated and accelerated preliminary to sumcient rolling movement of the friction members 5 upon the plane surfaces to bring such members into locking engagement with the driving and driven elements.

Broadly the invention comprehends a one way clutch of the friction type which is so constructed as to effect a driving connection Without undue shock to the component parts of the construction or to the load driven thereby and one which may be readily disengaged without regard to load conditions.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, concentric drive and driven members, a plurality of substantially plane outwardly facing surfaces on the drive member, an inner annular surface on the driven member in opposed relation to said plane surfaces, a plurality of rollers between the opposed surfaces, means normally holding each of said rollers centrally of one of the plane surfaces and operable to restrain the rollers from movement in one direction from the central position on said surfaces, and means for effecting engagement of each of the rollers by said members whereby said rollers move upon the plane surfaces in the other direction to produce locking engagement between the members.

2. In a clutch, the combination of, concentric drive and driven members having spaced opposed surfaces, one of said surfaces comprising a plurality of plane surfaces converging towards the other of the surfaces, friction members between said plane surfaces and the opposed surface, means normally holding said friction members in a position centrally of said plane surfaces, and operable to restrain the friction members from movement in one direction from the central position on said surfaces, and means operable to move one of said concentric members toward the other of the members to effect movement of the friction members in the other direction and into frictional engagement with the converging surfaces.

3. In a clutch the combination of, concentric drive and driven members, a frusto-pyramidal surface on one of the members, a frusto-conical surface on the other of the members in opposed relation with the first mentioned surface, friction members interposed between the faces of the frusto-pyramidal surface and the opposed frustoconical surface, a retainer for said friction members, and means resiliently urging said retainer to normally hold the friction members centrally of the faces of the frusto-pyramidal surface.

CARL M. ANDERSON. 

